Read this article to find a great hotel.
To get the very best prices for the hotels that you’d like to visit, use travel sites online like Orbitz and Expedia. If you are in a hotel loyalty program, put your information in. You may also qualify for discounts from other organizations you belong to such as AAA or AARP.
Check your hotel room when you arrive. Is the room free of mildew and mold? Are all the towels in the room? If you spot any problems, let the person at the front desk know so they can help you sort it out or give you a better room.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. You will probably pay more for this meal, but for the convenience of having it delivered to your room, it is worth it.
Know your check-in time is. Some people end up waiting for their room is still not ready. Call the front desk to find out if you think you’ll be early.
Never book a hotel room before seeking out online deals. The reservation clerk won’t offer these details to you over the phone. It’s your job to find them yourself. Websites like Orbitz, Travelocity and Hotels.com usually have some great discounts.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking all hotels will be pet friendly.
To get a good price when you want a hotel room, get your trips planned quite a few weeks or so in advance. If you can book a couple of months early, a lot of locations will give you a steeper discount. You might only pay half price for premium hotels.
Book your appointment as early as possible. The best practitioners go fast, so planning early is the best way to create a good experience.
Are you a member of the AAA? If so, find out about membership discounts at hotels. You may not have known that, but it’s true. You can save upwards of 5% on your hotel stays. The more nights you stay, the more you will save.
If you belong to AAA, it may qualify you for a hotel discount. You might be surprised where hidden discounts on hotels. You can save 5% or even 10% on some rooms. It’s a savings that can add up fast.
If you are an avid jogger, a GPS watch is a great investment so you can always find your way back to your hotel. Also, don’t forget your exercise clothes! This makes it easy for you to wake in the morning and get in a run. It’ll let you explore the city in a new way.
If you are a runner, make sure that your packing list includes lots of running clothes and a GPS watch.
Do you travel on a periodic basis? If so, consider joining your hotel’s loyalty program. There are some great benefits offered to clients who often book the same chain. There are many rewards given when you accumulate loyalty points such as free stays, free upgrades and later than usual check out times.
It is wise to join a hotel loyalty programs that your favorite hotels offer. They have benefits to anyone who stays at a hotel. You might earn a free upgrade, free stays, or other great perks.
How much you pay for a hotel room depends on when you book your room. Hotels price their rooms based on how many rooms are available. If possible, don’t make your reservation more than a day in advance. You can often get the best price if you do it this way. If the hotel never rents the room they’ll get zero dollars for it, so most of the time they will give you a steep discount on it.
If there’s a hotel chain you stay at often, check to see if they offer membership to frequent stay programs. These programs usually work by letting you points every time you stay there. These points can quickly add up to many perks such as a free night, tickets to shows, free nights at the hotel, and much more.
To keep from having an unwanted major expense on your hotel bill, ask about the cost of hotel transfers before booking them. Hotel transfer costs can be extremely large, especially in hotels that appear to offer an incredible deal on their room rates. You will save more by asking about such a thing in advance.
The timing for your booking of a hotel room is going to affected by how early you pay. Rooms are typically priced based on their availability. This will allow you a great price on a hotel room.
Always avoid making long distance calls from your hotel room. Try using the Internet instead to stay in touch. You can access Skype with the Internet connection at your hotel. But the Internet is infinitely useful while traveling so it is usually worth it.
Don’t call long distance in your hotel phone. Many hotels now offer Skype connections on their Wi-Fi.This can be a ton of money.
Always ask about the hotel’s smoking policy if you smoke. A lot of places have specific rooms just for people who smoke. So if you are a smoker, be sure to ask for one of those rooms. Don’t smoke in a nonsmoking room, or you may be charged by the hotel for doing so.
It is extremely frustrating for you and your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to find out it’s closed.
Be aware of the pet policy of the hotel. If you have an allergy, or you just don’t like dogs, it may not be in your best interest to book a hotel that lets guests bring their pets. Hotels that allow pets typically have rooms that have a pet odor in them. You may get charged extra for having a pet, but a lot of places don’t charge all that much. The fee charged may not be adequate to cover the extra cleaning needed to completely remove the odors.
Check if a hotel is non-smoking or smoking. If cigarette smoke bothers you, you might not want to go to a hotel with smoking rooms. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are renting is a non-smoking room.
If possible, do not check out earlier than your scheduled departure day. You may be charged a fee if you do. Booking that room means it wasn’t available when others were reserving. To earn back this money they will lose, they charge you an additional departure fee.
Be sure you know what the hotel smoking policy is if you smoke. Many hotels set aside certain rooms or wings for smokers. Ask to see if you are a smoker. If they find you have smoked in a non-smoking area, you can be charged hefty fees.
To be safe, avoid the top bedspread that is provided by the hotel. The sheets and blankets underneath are usually washed between guests, but the top bedspread is usually not. This means they may be a hotbed of germs. Remove the blanket from the bed to have peace of mind.
It is not always possible to check into your hotel early. Plan your time accordingly unless you want to wait in a hotel lobby. Hotels need this time to clean your room. If you do arrive early, speak with the people at the front to see if you’re able to get into the room, but don’t expect that request to be honored.
Understand your rights when it comes to hotels “walking” you. You might find that a room you booked isn’t available when you arrive because they overbooked. This will require that you have to stay at a different hotel. If you cannot avoid this situation, you need to be booked at a comparable hotel or upgraded room for your troubles.
Not all hotel will often have a very limited supply. Talk about these things when you reserve your reservations.
Do not open that bottled water! Sure, you might be a little thirsty after checking into your new room. Opening the bottle in the mini-fridge is tempting. Hotels are aware of this fact, and that bottle will be much more expensive than a bottle anywhere else. You may find free bottled water in the hotel gym. Or better yet, bring a few of your own bottles.
Never check out earlier than your scheduled departure date unless it is absolutely necessary. The hotel may charge you an early departure fee. When you book a hotel room, the hotel can’t offer the room to someone else, so they lose money if you leave early.
Think about bundling your flight and hotel together. There are numerous travel websites that give a fair deal when you book the hotel with a rental car or flight. Then, compare rates for several airlines and hotels for the best price.
You can often save money if you book a flight and hotel at the same time. Travel sites typically offers savings to people who book both your flight and hotel.
Try getting an upgrade without paying for it. To do this, arrive at the hotel when you are supposed to check in. Often the room isn’t quite ready at the exact time and the hotel will offer you an upgraded room instead.
You may be able to receive an upgrade without paying a dime. You can do this by going at your expected arrival time. If the room you are booked for has not been cleaned yet, you may be offered an upgrade.
Tipping the staff will ensure that you have a much better time at your hotel. If you order room service, you should probably tip, for example. Tipping those who help you will ensure they give you special attention.
Tourist Centers
Some hotel rooms have excellent views, while others do not. When the price is the same regardless of the view, ask for a room with a great view. Little things like this can make your hotel stay more pleasant. You can always ask the manager if they have another room available with a better view.
If you need to book a hotel on short notice while traveling, take a look at different tourist centers, tourist centers and fuel stations for complimentary tourist information that has maps with hotels including discounts. This will help you time and money.
Don’t pay the price being advertised. Experienced travelers never actually pay the “rack rate”, or advertised rate. Hotel staff assume that clients will try to haggle over their room rates. Just give the hotel a call to see if you can get a great deal. Be bold. Various travel sites offer deep discounts.
You can always avoid paying the full price that hotels advertise to its guests. Call them and ask about deals. You can also find great discounts on travel sites.
If you are at the hotel to celebrate a special occasion, be sure to inform them. Many times hotels will upgrade your room or give you some complimentary items if it is a special occasion. They may provide a bottle of wine or champagne to help you celebrate. However, do not be dishonest about it.
Book a hotel plans during special occasions. Hotels often provide some complimentary gifts if you let them know you are celebrating an anniversary or something similar. You might get a free champagne bottle or some other enjoyable gift.
Go to online websites like Travelocity or Expedia to find the best prices. Because they help hotels fill their rooms, they can usually give you discounts that you won’t get anywhere else. Some may require you to bid, while others may give you a price and the star rating but not tell you the name until you decide to buy, so be aware of that.
It is customary to tip your housekeeper when you leave a hotel. You can justify not tipping other services as the bill usually includes these extras, but you should definitely give a tip to the maid. Most people are quite messy in their rooms, so please consider tipping them.
Sometimes asking the hotel clerk for a deal can get you a better rate. If they cannot reduce the rate, they can often give you other perks like a free breakfast buffet or a continental breakfast. You will never know if you don’t ask so don’t be afraid to ask.
You will never know if you never ask.
The quality of chain hotels may prove to be inconsistent. A good experience at a particular hotel that belongs to a chain does not mean that you will have a good experience at a hotel of the same chain in another city. The best thing to do is check the ratings of each individual hotel to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Watch out for extra fees when booking through a third-party booker. The quotes provided don’t always include the additional charges.
The hotel’s quality might not stay consistent among different establishments in a chain may be inconsistent. It is the best idea to check individual hotels so there are no surprises when you get there.
The truth of the matter is that many travelers simply don’t take the needed time to research in advance. As a result, they wind up booking the wrong hotel for their needs. However, this hit or miss approach can really backfire on you. You really don’t want your hotel room to be dirty, so use this advice to avoid this circumstance.